Chile boasts a remarkable diversity of life, hosting around 30,000 species, 25% of which are unique to the country, positioning it as one of the global biodiversity hotspots, especially in its central and southern regions. Stretching some 4,345 km (2,700 miles) from north to south, the country fsively in southern Chile and Argentina in South America.

Additioneatures a diverse range of natural landscapes, including deserts, grasslands, shrublands, and both temperate and tropical forests. The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest on earth, and the Valdivian temperate rainforests, characterized by evergreen angiosperm trees, are found exclually, Chile is part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Chile also lays claim to about 1,243,195 km² (480,000 mi²) of Antarctica, though this claim is currently on hold under the Antarctic Treaty. The country’s forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and tourism industries, which are heavily reliant on renewable natural resources, contribute 9.7% to the GDP and provide over one million direct jobs.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	61.9	21	N/A
Land Management	75	6	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	93	43	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	60	74	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	79	8	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	100	1	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	100	1	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	43	73	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	49	70	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	55	147	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	69	161	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	62	78	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	76	132	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	88	83	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	25	120	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	0	39	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	23	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	75	150	N/A
Capacity and Governance	76	10	N/A
Total Management Cost	99	32	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	54	39	N/A
Conservation Legislation	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	50	63	N/A
Control of Corruption	70	28	N/A
Government Effectiveness	60	49	N/A
Future Trends	42	87	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	42	87	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Chile is home to an extensive network of protected areas, covering more than 18% of its territory. These regions protect a diverse range of ecosystems, including the Patagonian wilds, arid deserts, and dense temperate rainforests. Some notable protected areas include Torres del Paine National Park, known for its rugged landscapes and diverse wildlife; Lauca National Park, which features high-altitude wetlands and volcanic peaks; and Conguillío National Park, famous for its ancient Araucaria forests and scenic lakes. In 2024, Chile launched a new initiative to expand its protected land and marine areas to encompass 30% of its total territory, reinforcing its dedication to preserving its natural heritage.

Threats to Biodiversity

The primary threats to biodiversity in Chile stem from land use changes driven by forestry and agricultural activities. These sectors are responsible for significant alterations to natural habitats, impacting local flora and fauna. Additional pressures come from urban expansion, which reduces and fragments ecosystems. Invasive alien species also pose a major risk, outcompeting native species for resources. Forest fires further devastate habitats, often exacerbated by human activities or climatic conditions.

Climate change is another critical threat, altering temperature and precipitation patterns, which in turn affect species survival and distribution. Moreover, extensive water extraction for mining and agriculture in Chile’s northern regions severely impacts water availability, affecting both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Capacity and Governance

In 2010, Chile revised its 1994 Environmental Law, leading to significant advancements in environmental and biodiversity management within a sustainable development framework. This included the establishment of new institutions like the Ministry of Environment—which replaced the National Environmental Commission (CONAMA)—the Environmental Assessment Service, the Superintendency of the Environment, and Environmental Courts. The Ministry of Environment now holds enhanced powers in biodiversity management. The Environmental Assessment Service manages the System on Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA), and in 2014, a proposal was introduced to create a Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service.

Additionally, Chile’s National Plan for Climate Change Adaptation features nine sectoral plans, with one dedicated to biodiversity, focusing on sustainable management and ecosystem conservation and restoration. The plan addresses both human-caused and climate-related stresses while bolstering research, monitoring, and training capacities. Concurrently, the Ministry of Environment is advocating for a task force to promote ecological restoration efforts. Chile also participates in the UN REDD+ programme, emphasizing its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Future Trends

The updated National Biodiversity Strategy for 2015-2030 aligns with the 2011-2020 CBD Strategic Plan and incorporates the Aichi targets. It addresses the implementation challenges encountered with the previous strategy by shifting its focus from direct actions to enabling factors like knowledge, capacity building, awareness, education, and the integration of biodiversity considerations into other public policies and private activities. This strategy will also feature a National Strategy for Coastal and Marine Conservation and will be connected to the Climate Change Adaptation Plan (Chapter 4; Section 7). Additionally, there is an increased focus on ecosystem restoration and enhancing connectivity between ecosystems.

Biodiversity

The Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, hosts a surprising variety of life adapted to its extreme conditions. Unique plant species such as cacti and succulents thrive here, along with animals like the viscacha and various species of lizards. The desert blooms with wildflowers during rare rainfall events, adding to its ecological uniqueness.

In stark contrast, the temperate rainforests of southern Chile, particularly in Los Lagos and Aysén, are lush and biologically rich. These forests are home to ancient trees like the alerce and the araucaria and support diverse wildlife, including the puma, the pudú (the world’s smallest deer), and numerous bird species such as the Magellanic woodpecker and the Chilean flamingo.

The Andes mountains, which run the country’s length, create diverse habitats ranging from high-altitude deserts to alpine tundra. These areas are home to species like the Andean condor, guanaco, and vicuña, as well as a variety of unique plant species adapted to the cold, dry conditions.

With its cold, nutrient-rich waters, Chile’s extensive coastline supports a rich marine biodiversity. The Humboldt Current brings abundant marine life, including sea lions, penguins, and various fish species. The coastal and marine environments also support kelp forests and coral reefs, which are crucial habitats for marine organisms. The southern region of Patagonia, including areas like Torres del Paine National Park, features dramatic landscapes of glaciers, fjords, and rugged mountains. This region supports unique species such as the guanaco, the Andean fox, and a variety of birdlife, including the Andean condor and the black-necked swan.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Chile only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	160 (#72)	19	11.9%	15	9.4%
Birds	429 (#82)	36	8.4%	14	3.3%
Reptiles	149 (#65)	25	16.8%	74	49.7%
Amphibians	58 (#53)	29	50.0%	42	72.4%
Fishes	782 (#74)	58	7.4%	25	3.2%
Plants	4,944 (#69)	73	1.5%	351	7.1%